Reply to: On call arrangements

[northernladyuk]

Kind of. I'm not contracted to supply the entire platform, nor to support it, so it's already clear to all parties that on call is not provided for by the contract. I've checked again though and there's nothing about it in there.

You could quote for the work and agree a CCN to your contract. Make sure it is scope and time defined.

[SeanT]

Indeed. It'd probably be co-termed with the contract. Thinking of it as just a few extra hours is an easy way of dealing with it, but I'm minded to push for a retainer (as I'll have to make arrangements to be available regardless of whether I get called out or not!)

[northernladuk]

Kind of. I'm not contracted to supply the entire platform, nor to support it, so it's already clear to all parties that on call is not provided for by the contract. I've checked again though and there's nothing about it in there.

Which is kind of a good thing I guess. It gives you the option to negotiate the requirements and more importantly the rate if you do fancy doing it.

[WTFH]

Is it for a few weeks, or are we talking about months/years?

If it’s only a few weeks, I’d probably agree something with the client along the lines of “if I do 2-3 hours a week, I’ll bill you for half a day, 3-6 is a full day and weekends are double”, then tell the agent you may be working a few extra hours per week and that you’ll be billing either full or half days for them.

If it’s longer than that, I’d want a separate contract that was hourly, maybe specifying 20 hours per month as a base, but you’re getting into permie territory then.

[SeanT]

So, what is the “on call” work that they want you to do?

Be available as an escalation contact if and when the platform does go down.

[WTFH]

So, what is the “on call” work that they want you to do?

[SeanT]

It matters as it makes the difference between D&C and an existing agreed deliverable. I thought that was the type of thing you were asking about in your original post?

Kind of. I'm not contracted to supply the entire platform, nor to support it, so it's already clear to all parties that on call is not provided for by the contract. I've checked again though and there's nothing about it in there.

[northernladuk]

Why does it matter what my contract says? It doesn't say anything about on-call - so there is no provision and it would need to be formally added / agreed. In terms of actual working practices, I'm reviewing what's already there as I'm considered an SME on the container orchestrator in use (k8s), proposing changes and upgrades, and being given high-level requirements that take several weeks each to choose how to implement and adding them to the platform. I'm working unsupervised, providing direction, and taking control

It matters as it makes the difference between D&C and an existing agreed deliverable. I thought that was the type of thing you were asking about in your original post?

[Eirikur]

For a long cutover process where I had to be on call and on site I had an hourly rate of 150% evening hours between 6 and 11PM after that until7&AM and during weekends 200% (for hours actually worked)

[SeanT]

What does your contract say. Are you being given extra tasks above and beyond those I the agreement or is this part of the schedule of work. I. E. D&C or not?

Why does it matter what my contract says? It doesn't say anything about on-call - so there is no provision and it would need to be formally added / agreed. In terms of actual working practices, I'm reviewing what's already there as I'm considered an SME on the container orchestrator in use (k8s), proposing changes and upgrades, and being given high-level requirements that take several weeks each to choose how to implement and adding them to the platform. I'm working unsupervised, providing direction, and taking control

[northernladuk]

What does your contract say. Are you being given extra tasks above and beyond those I the agreement or is this part of the schedule of work. I. E. D&C or not?

[SeanT]

On call? Are you doing project based work or BAU? In a project, I have very occasionally been on call during a go-live for a couple of days (and have arrange payments pretty informally) but that is all.

The project is the evolution and "product-isation" of a platform that is now live. Might just leave it to the permies...

[northernladuk]

MoO is about offering work aftet the current assignment so I'd guess no but you need to know the details to be absolutely sure what is and isn't affected.

[Lance]

On call? Are you doing project based work or BAU? In a project, I have very occasionally been on call during a go-live for a couple of days (and have arrange payments pretty informally) but that is all.

the problem is 'on-call' implies ad-hoc.
Best to be 'working all hours for a critical milestone' with some sleep breaks.

[northernladyuk]

How are people dealing with the contractual side of this when already engaged in a contract through an agency? Just a retainer for simplicity? Any MoO concerns?

On call? Are you doing project based work or BAU? In a project, I have very occasionally been on call during a go-live for a couple of days (and have arrange payments pretty informally) but that is all.